Wakefield MP Imran Ahmad Khan and council leader Denise Jeffery demand 'urgent meeting' with Yorkshire Water over flooding concerns

In a joint letter, Imran Ahmad Khan MP and Councillor Denise Jeffery said they wanted to discuss the "deeply concerning and worsening situation" affecting residents and businesses in the city.

Roads were closed and a small number of homes were hit by flooding last month, less than a year on from Storms Ciara and Dennis, which devastated dozens of properties in Horbury Bridge.

The letter, which was sent to Yorkshire Water chief executive Liz Barber, claimed that the agency's sewage system in the area is deficient and was unable to cope with the recent downpours.

It suggested that only emergency action taken by the council stopped more homes being flooded.

Yorkshire Water has been contacted for comment.

The letter, which was tweeted by Mr Khan on Thursday, said: "For the third time in 14 months, these communities have yet again suffered flooding, most recently as a result of Storm Christoph.

"Although Wakefield Council strenuously maintains it has no legal responsibility for the drainage of properties in the area, constituents and residents have turned to their Member of Parliament and council to seek an enduring solution.

"The council activated emergency procedures to prevent sewage contaminated flood water entering properties.

"Not for the first time this foul water has come from Yorkshire Water's sewer system due to the system's deficiency made manifest by its repeated inability to cope in very wet weather."

Mr Khan and Coun Jeffery went on to request an "urgent meeting without further delay" with Yorkshire Water, adding that they wanted to "engage in a spirit of co-operation" on the issue.

Earlier this week, Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford MP Yvette Cooper called for an urgent review of flood defences, with Castleford having been particularly affected by the downpours both last year and last month.

Local Democracy Reporting Service